A teenager has died and another two children — including the 14-year-old driver — are in hospital after a crash between their allegedly stolen car and a truck on the Hume Hwy on Wednesday, June 28.
Police said a 14-year-old girl was driving an allegedly stolen grey Holden Captiva wagon which was involved in a collision with a truck at Locksley, between Avenel and Euroa, about 8.30am.
Superintendent Michael Clayton said the allegedly stolen car and truck were both travelling north along the Hume Hwy when the collision occurred, but said investigations were still taking place as to what exactly happened.
A girl, 15, who was the front seat passenger in the car died at the scene.
The girl driving and a boy, 12, in the vehicle were taken to hospital in Melbourne with what Supt Clayton said were “not life-threatening injuries”.
Supt Clayton said the three were not related to each other, but were “believed to be friends” who were from the “Wangaratta region”.
According to police, the car was allegedly stolen was a driveway in north-east Victoria, near Wangaratta before midnight the previous night.
Supt Clayton said the vehicle had been reported to police as driving erratically earlier in the morning.
The truck driver, 45, from Tabilk was not injured in the crash and is assisting police with their inquiries.
“Obviously this a tragic scene and high risk-taking behaviour by youths, I would suggest it’s totally avoidable and every parent’s worst nightmare who might be dealing with rebellious teens and young people,” Supt Clayton said.
“This is just a tragic thing to have occurred.”
The driver of the car remained under police guard in hospital on Wednesday afternoon.
While no charges had yet been laid, Supt Clayton said “undoubtedly there will be consequences” which he said would be “appropriate to the circumstances and age”.
Anyone with information or dash cam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
The death lifts Victoria’s road toll to 149 people for the year so far, compared to 118 at the same time last year.